Meat processing plant being planned here

DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Commission unanimously approved moving forward on a proposal made by Table Rock Meat Company of Dayton to purchase Port property for the future site of a USDA-approved meat processing facility at its October 12 meeting.

Port Executive Director Jennie Dickinson presented a proposal concerning Table Rock Meat Company's owners, who received a COVID relief business startup grant from the State last year. They since have sought grant funding to buy two Port lots of just over two acres in the industrial park to build a USDA meat processing plant. The law states that the buyers have one year to build their project, or the land would revert to the Port.

Owner Michelle Shoun was present and shared that animals will be processed for public re-sale to grocery stores and restaurants. They also have formed a non-profit organization which will allow the processed meat to be distributed to shelters for veterans, women, or animals.

Commissioner Johnny Watts said Shoun shows courage and fortitude to take on a USDA-level facility. Shoun emphasized that the quality of the product is important and working with the USDA will help ensure that. They will take in beef, pigs, goat, and sheep within a 100- to 150-mile radius and they plan to use the current facility to process game.

The storefront on Main Street will sell branded and labeled products from local producers. Bryan applauded them for their services and growth.

The first four of 14 reels of the broadband fiber were delivered to the Port of Columbia by the meeting day of October 12, according to Dickinson. The remainder of the fiber was expected later in the week. Commissioner Johnny Watts asked about the inflationary cost of fiber and Dickinson said it was within the approved costs.

The project will go out for bid in November and remain open for a required four weeks. The Touchet Valley Broadband contract was reviewed, which included requirements for insurance, contracting with Internet Service Providers, working with local transportation coordination, following the procedure for putting the construction design out for bid, and following the state environmental checklist.

Commissioner Seth Bryan asked for additional time for review the contract in more detail before approving it, and it was decided they would schedule a special meeting on October 26 at 6:30 p.m. to present the contract for approval, as well as to further review the budget and hold the executive session for an employee evaluation that was on the agenda for October 12 meeting to allow for more time to review documents.

The 2023 draft budget was reviewed. Other updates on assets and leases were given. The Commission voted 2-1 to begin meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance going forward.

It was also decided that the meeting packets would be sent out Friday before the monthly meetings to the Commissioners for review separate from the financials that would be sent the day before the meeting.

Dickinson presented the draft budget for 2023 and reviewed it line by line beginning with income. She proposed an increase in the beginning cash reserve from $100,000 to $150,000. Dickinson reduced the anticipated tax revenue because for 2022 it is down to $463,000 from $470,000. She included the allowed 1% levy increase, she said because the Port reinvests it back into the community and because of inflation.

Lease income from tenants was reviewed. The commercial kitchen use brought in more income than anticipated for 2022 so she raised the projected income for 2023. With the expectation that the broadband project will be completed sometime between February and June, Dickinson created a revenue estimate of $400k based on a conservative 30% adoption rate in the community for six months of 2023. The total revenue budget was not specified.

Bryan proposed the Port not take the 1% tax levy stating they could do more with less. He said "We're already hovering really close to the top of our .45 on a $1000...I think we can adjust things to be able to provide the same quality services that we do without causing additional burden on our taxpayers. As far as the inflation goes, it has been a lot harder on the citizens of the community than it has been on us...especially in light of many people's property taxes have just gone up...and now they want to create a Metropolitan Parks District which is going to increase people's taxes even more."

The discussion continued with Watts agreeing about limiting any added taxes. Commissioner Genie Crowe specified the amount total collected by the levy would equal $4,631 and said that something may have to be cut from the budget.

She then asked if the Commissioners would be willing to not be paid. Though the Commissioners agreed they could forego their pay, Watts suggested that there are other things that could be cut first, and Bryan agreed.

Before reviewing the expenditures, Bryan questioned ahead about paying $20,000 to WSDOT towards a grant for a trail design of a trail that will not be completed. Dickinson argued that the Port signed the contract agreeing to pay a portion. Bryan asked what the penalties would be to default on the contract, and Dickinson answered that she will inquire about it.

Dickinson moved on into reviewing expenditures including a 5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for salaries. The Commissioners suggested this amount over the 3% that she originally proposed. Many expenditures cited increased from the previous year. She provided an estimate of the cost for broadband maintenance. The end of year balance is projected to be $245,000 with $150,000 in reserve and another $100,000 cash on hand.

The expense budget was acceptable to the Commissioners overall, but one discussion was about the community support budget, which can contribute towards line items for economic development and staff support. The Port is the designated Associate Economic Development Organization (ADO) and receives $75,000 in State funds each year of which the Port pays $10,000 to the Dayton Chamber of Commerce for downtown business development

Bryan suggested they could provide more community support funds by eliminating $20,000 from the capital facilities plan for a stage for Blue Mountain Station stating that the direction for the property is in question until they update the Comprehensive Plan and that it is premature to spend the money on it when it could be used elsewhere where it is more needed.

Dickinson asked Bryan what additional community support the Port could provide. He answered for the American Legion since they provide support to veterans to get into the work force. She replied that a law would have to support the money going to them.

Bryan also suggested an additional $9,000 could be cut by not placing a sign on the highway. Another suggestion by Bryan was about the COLA.

After reviewing the policies, procedures, and the salary schedules, he realized the increase given this year to Dickinson has now put her at the maximum salary on the current compensation schedule and with the recent hire of Port Manager Tracy Clark, assuming she was offered a fair salary, he proposed they omit the COLA completely from the budget. He added they could review and possibly revise the policy concerning the salary schedule to allow for future increases for Dickinson.

Crowe responded by referencing the increase of the Consumer Price Index to 6% and thought that it should be taken into consideration when decided about a COLA. Bryan retorted that he is more concerned about undue burden on the taxpayers.

Dickinson said she is concerned about losing quality staff without offering a COLA for them and asked the Commission to reconsider for the staff. Bryan said he would take it into consideration. Watts expressed he would like to review the budget to determine what should be cut and talk more about it but reiterated that he is firm about not raising the tax levy and wants to cut funds somewhere to recoup what would have been collected.

Dickinson emphasized that the budget is only a guide where money can move amongst line items without an amendment. Determining what uncommitted funds will be spent on is not part of approving the budget, only that money is allocated for the fund to be approved for specific purposes later. She added the budget must be adopted next month and they need to allow time once completed for public viewing before a public hearing prior to adoption. They decided to continue to review it at the special meeting on October 26.

In regular business, North Home Bees is coming in where Bee Local Honey has been at Blue Mountain Station. Also, the Blue Mountain Garden will be operated by a new tenant. One proposal was received from Maul Foster Alongi Consulting Firm to aid in reviewing and revising the Comprehensive Plan, and they were approved unanimously as the consultant.

Dickinson had a few announcements. The first was that Lyons Ferry Marina won the KOA Founders Award. The second was that they sold 778 bushels of wheat at $920 a bushel. Lastly, KAPP-KVEW-TV out of Tri-Cities came and filmed the Blue Mountain Station tenants and the co-op market to be part of a show on agriculture producers in the region. For a four-minute slot in the show, the Port paid for 128 ads per month at $1,500 for three months.

At the close of the meeting, Watts asked about the flag he previously requested for the Port meeting room. Dickinson answered it was purchased and was set up in the foyer. Watts and Bryan asked for it to be moved into the meeting room for the purpose of beginning the meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. Crowe thought that it was better in the foyer and thought they should allow Dickinson to have it there since it is her office building. She also said reciting the pledge is uncustomary and appeared incredulous when the Commissioners made a motion and a second to institute the practice.

Crowe requested discussion about it and asked if other Ports recite it before meetings to which the other Commissioners answered that if not, they could start a "trend." Crowe then said that she views the practice as "a kind of litmus test of patriotism" and that though she is herself patriotic, it is not protocol nor necessary. Bryan answered that as a government agency, it is appropriate, to which Watts agreed. The motion passed with Crowe dissenting.

A special meeting was scheduled for October 26 at 6:30 p.m. for further discussion on the 2023 budget and the broadband contract, as well as to hold the postponed executive session for an employee review.